FOX Understands New Grads

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Jen Ruoff, MS, OTR/L, Director of Occupational Therapy Services: FOX was still newer at the time when I was graduating. So I was actually the first field work student to be placed at FOX.

Travis King, PT, DPT, GCS, ACCI, Director of Quality Assurance and Professional Development: I started out as a student therapist. I did an internship application with FOX Rehab. I quickly realized that it was a great place to be and I joined FOX for my first place of employment.

Jen Ruoff, MS, OTR/L, Director of Occupational Therapy Services: Just because I wanted a different experience and opportunities, even having the field work there, my professors were still saying, “you don’t have the experience, you won’t have the support that you’ll need to be successful in homecare. We really think you should go to a more traditional setting.” And when I looked into FOX and when I was a field work student, the mentor program is what made it comfortable. It’s what made it easy.

Will Dieter, PT, DPT, GCS, Director of Physical Therapy Clinical Services: And then when I found out about The Emerging Professionals Program, it was really sort of icing on the cake for me because it was I knew I was going to get to work with this woman who was my CI as a potential mentor and really have this this focused and targeted approach that made me feel really comfortable. I knew that I had people to go to, and it brought me through my first six months in a way where I felt like I was leaps and bounds beyond friends of mine who had gone to other places – in terms of my understanding and my appreciation of my job. While they were still trying to figure out the steps one and two, I was on steps eight, nine, and 10 because of the type of program.

Jeff Falini, PT, DPT, GCS, Senior Regional Director: I wasn’t treated like a new graduate on paper. I was treated like a full-blooded clinician. That, I was a peer. I was a colleague. I love that. I love that somebody actually said, “alright, you passed your boards. We’re all practicing here. We’re all continuing to learn. You might not have as much experience as your mentor or as another therapist on the team. But, you know what, you’re just as valuable here as a clinician.”

Jen Ruoff, MS, OTR/L, Director of Occupational Therapy Services: There was no given time. I mean I worked with, very closely with, PTs and OTs that are now executive leadership: VPs within the practice, overseeing numerous regions. And, I never felt like I was a student or a new grad. They treated you like you were a colleague.

Travis King, PT, DPT, GCS, ACCI, Director of Quality Assurance and Professional Development: The first thing I saw in FOX Rehabilitation was opportunity. You know, it was a private practice. I liked that. It was led and organized by clinicians, mostly physical therapists and occupational therapists.

Kelsey Swope, MOT, OTR/L, Mentor Services OT Coordinator: With FOX and clinically owned and operated, you really get that feeling that they care about your professional development. And, you always have resources that you need to progress to progress to the next level.

Jen Ruoff, MS, OTR/L, Director of Occupational Therapy Services: I found, with FOX, that you can do all of it. You’re doing home modifications. You’re doing caregiver education. You’re doing physical disabilities. You’re doing all realms of OT.

Will Dieter, PT, DPT, GCS, Director of Physical Therapy Clinical Services: So, I went through that mentor program for six months and then transitioned into treating for a while out in Ocean County, New Jersey and then sort of parlayed that into our residency program.

Jeff Falini, PT, DPT, GCS, Senior Regional Director: Within six months, I was interviewing for my first regional director position. Within a year, I was holding a regional director position. Within three years, I was holding two regional director positions. And now, four and a half years in, I’m a senior regional director.

Daniel Quirk, PT, DPT, GCS, Senior Regional Director: I’m currently a senior regional director and came through the mentorship program.

Jen Ruoff, MS, OTR/L, Director of Occupational Therapy Services: And then, again, I just I felt like I wanted to do more within the practice. And the opportunity came up to be the director of OT, and that’s where I am now. So not only am I able to make sure that new grads get the education and training they need within the mentor program, but all OTs coming into the setting, because it’s so unique, so feel that they can be successful.

Kelsey Swope, MOT, OTR/L, Mentor Services OT Coordinator: And, these are things that I wouldn’t have thought possible in such a short period of time. And, it was because of the foundation of the new grad program that I felt confident in taking on those new endeavors and really growing not only clinically but also professionally.

Travis King, PT, DPT, GCS, ACCI, Director of Quality Assurance and Professional Development: Anyone who is becoming a physical therapist, occupational therapist, and is emerging into the marketplace: Consider: “what kind of place you want to be in?” Consider: “Is my five-year plan or my 10-year plan, to be a leader in the industry? Do I want to take on management responsibilities? Do I want to work in a quality assurance department? Do I want to really understand clinical practice guidelines?” And if any of those answers are “yes,” FOX Rehab is a tremendous place to be.

Kelsey Swope, MOT, OTR/L, Mentor Services OT Coordinator: My advice to a new graduate would be to make sure that you interview your employer. It is so important to make sure not only that you are a good fit for them, but also that they’re a good fit for you. So many different companies will tell you stuff or say different things. It’s so important to make sure that it matches with what your feelings and your beliefs are. With the mentor program, you have the opportunity – maybe you don’t know exactly what you want to get involved in on day one. But, you have that opportunity that over those six months and beyond that you can grow with FOX. And, you can take on many different outlets of what you feel is appropriate at that that time.